UH-1 project started

Video updates...


Had to put down flymentor due to mechanical problem (flybar seasaw thread worn out due to overtight-my bad). So had tu put aside first. So I start uh-1 project. Just finished assembly with the elevated tail system. Straight forward..will test out tomorrow. Blue cnc head and tail repainted with silver color to make the UH-1 appear more scale. Tested this morning and it's good to go.

First step to mount the heli frame to the fuselage is to create a mount plate. This is piece of plywood so that I can mount my 450v2 frame on it with screws. Mark and drill the place where the mount plate meet the landing skid block.


Next remove part of the elevated tail section so that the boom can easily slide into the fuse. Slide in the fuse and adjust the body to the mount plate. Mark the landing skid mount to the mount plate. Screw in the plate to the landing skid mount and slide in back. Check for any binding and also check for the tail servo case hitting the fuse boom. I have to remove some of the front servo mount frame to fit fuse.

Assemble the rest of the part for the tail and horizontal stabilizer. It's good to go.


aint she's a beuty.

KDS Flymentor 3d

Fligth stabilization system from kds. This unit comes with 5 items; the main unit, gyro, CCD sensor, CD software and usb data cable (manual is in PDF format in the CD). Flymentor 3D is a stabilization unit that help helicopter to self stabilized it's own position in hover and also self recovery during 3D manuever. If you are familiar with copilot 2 then the function for this device is almost the same with some differences. This review divided into installation and testing.

1. Installation:

• This is definitely not for newbie since the installation require prior knowledge on setting up helicopter manually through computerized radio, theoretical and practical controling remote control helicopter plus with some computer knowledge on driver and application installation and usage.

• First step is to mount and connect main unit, ccd sensor, gyro to heli. This is how I mount my unit. Connect flymentor main unit to receiver according to color channel match. Connect servo wires to flymentor unit show in the picture below. Servo name will be s1(aileron), s2 (pitch), s3 (elevator), s5(rudder).
  

Wiring diagram

Flymentor main unit


CCD sensor..make sure the camera has clear view without any obstruction.

• Reset your radio with no swash mixing. For futaba 9c under parameter-->type--> HELI(SWH1) so that each servo operate independently. Flymentor has it own mixing software. Reset all EPA, any mixing to inhibit.
• Connect data cable to computer and start driver installation (follow manual). Then run the helibal.exe to start to configure flymentor. Important!! all the setup normally being done in the radio is has been replace by the flymentor software. No configuration required from the radio accept for servo reverse. (disconnect two wires from esc to motor)
  
• The next setup is to configure the mount direction, servo and mixing setup. Connect flymentor to the computer and load the software. Connect power to ESC and wait for helibal to load the configuration from the main unit.
• First setup is mounting direction of ccd sensor and gyro direction. Then select the main blade direction and swash configuration. --> save the setting.
  
• After that select servo reverse option and neutral. This is for me the most tedious part of setting up flymentor where I have problem getting the correct mixing correction given with heli orientation. I have to setup servo reverse from the radio where I have to reverse channel 2,4,6. Inside helibal servo-->reverse option servo 1,3 and tail servo has been set to reverse.
• To check your mixing and mixing corection in the right selection. Tilt the heli in the direction the swash mixing should give correction in the opposite way from the tilting direction. Check out the following video. You can see the swash mixing responded to counter the leaning action.
  

• The servo reverse combination between radio servo reverser and helibal software. Have to test all combination to get the correct respond towards swash mixing. It's a tedious work for me to get the right servo reverse option. Play arround with servo reverse and control to get the right output.
• After swash mixing configuration then the pitch setting can begin. Check the servo arm center at half stick at this point. Servo travel in non-mixing mode caused the servo throw bigger than mixing mode. EPA setting in radio cannot work to limit servo travel in this setup. Adjust the travel through control option. Setup the pitch curve and get the proper pitch setup using pitch gauge. Pitch curve setup has to be done through radio software.
• Solution for the gyro setup I think I've got it..thanks to kepler from HeliFreak..why I have problem with the gyro is because of the color coding on the gyro sensitivity and stabilization sensitivity are the wrong way around. The manual stated that gyro sensitivity is the blue one but actually it's the green one. The blue one is for flymentor sensitivity. Just swap both wires at the receiver.
• That's it...my flybar seesaw has been repaired and everything is up for another test tomorrow if mother nature permits...

Testing

• Managed to test with the new setup today evening but not much time due to rain. Helibal Gyro gain set to 10% and the wag gone..but still need to reduce some more since it still wag during hard climb up. I think better off with external gyro.
  
• Will take video later since had no chance to properly tune the system. But initially the flight test was successful. I gave hard lean to the left and right and let go the stick..my heli recover back to hover position. It's really work.

Issues

• Some issues I've found during the test is the system need to reboot twice to work. The first time the system won't initilize but the second power up it's working. KDS should look into this.
• Color coding on the gyro sensitivity and stabilization sensitivity are the wrong way around.
• Gyro performance..better off with external gyro. The build in gyro not for 3D performance.. but good for scale flyer. It will wag during hard punch or sudden high rpm input.
• KDS should revise their manual since several critical error leads user to the wrong setup.
• One more finding after more test today..I have to reset flymentor 2-3 times every time although the system already boot. I found that the first time it start the centering suddenly goes nut. Take the power off then on again..it's good to go. This has been confirmed by several flyers from HF.
  

Thanks to kepler and nightfly for the helps..More discussion on Flymentor 3D available in Helifreak forum
For Malaysian you can buy KDS system from Myhotgears

uh1 has landed..

Wuhuuuu..superb

UH-1 Heliartis fuse - new project

Been waiting for this fuse quite a while and finally I almost get the taste of it. Order has been placed with fung from flying hobby and eagerly waiting for shipment to comes this week.
It comes with elevated tail system also. Nice..

Gerik Funfly

The event was a success. Almost 90 flyer's show's up and variety of aircraft on display and in air also water. Fun flying, dinner, karaoke, prize giving, all simply awesome. Many familiar faces from RC forum's finally met and share their love in RC.

Day 0 (before the main event) already a few pilots testing the runway.





















Day 1











2 Day (Banding Lake)

















More pictures of the event available here... http://www.duniarc.com/index.php/topic,1827.msg106067.html#msg106067

Rearrange my workshop

Rearrange my workshop this morning. A shelf for my 500 and all of my planes now hanging on the wall. More room for me to work on the floor.

Gerik Funfly

Funfly announcement..
For the first time ever funfly event combining remote control helicopter, plane, float, boat, and turbine in one event. Organized by colonel Adzha it is expected to become one of the biggest event for RC this year.

The following is the raw tentative of the event

1. 07 Ogos - Ketibaan Flyers and check in Hotel -Masa Sendiri
2. 08 Ogos - Jam 0800 - Berkumpul di Air Field dan Sarapan Pagi
Jam 0830 - Pertunjukan Brass band dan Perasmian Oleh Vip yang di jemput.
Jam 0900 - acara dimulakan merangkumi aktiviti berikut:
a. fLY
b. Static Display Heli dan Plane untuk Pelajar (promosi hobby)
c. Penerangan mengenai hobby RC dan character RC Plane dan Heli (Brozeck and sifu)
Jam 1100 - Minum Rehat (Break)
Jam 1130 - Acara disambung
Jam 1300 - Makan Tengahari dan solat zohor
Jam 1400 - Acara disambung
Jam 1630 - minum teh petang dan solat asar
Jam 1700 - acara disambung
Jam 1930 - Solat Magrib
Jam 2000 - Dinner (plan di Air Field)

3. 09 Ogos - Jam 0800 bergerak ke Tasik Banding(45 min)
Jam 0900 mula fly float atau acara lain bagi flyers yang tak bawa float plane.

Sporter

Hat's off. After 2 years of service finally I've decided it's time to retire my old sporter. Suffer only 2 minor crashes over the time however age finally catch her. This is the first ever sporter coming to Malaysia and mark the beginning of 'siam mali' invasion. Hundreds of sporter then covered the air of Malaysian soil. Farewell my old friend.

Well thing come and go..Introducing my new sporter..build this specially for Gerik funfly this coming week.